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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Miss Meliana Bekeson." <oigdds@t-online.de>
Reply-To: "meliana.bekeson@yahoo.com" <meliana.bekeson@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Feb 2016 23:43:05 +0100 (MET)
Subject: Thank you again.
Miss Meliana Bekeson.
N° 20 Avenue 16 Treichville.
Abidjan.
In order to escape alive from our country Liberia because of the then
prevailing crisis and civil war, my father relocated his remaining assets
outside the country after the destruction of everything we had.
My name is Miss Meliana Bekeson from Liberia and i live alone in the
Republic of Côte d'Ivoire. Weakened by the tragic death of my father, i do
not get any assistance because of the political situation and many years of
civil war there.
But before his death, he told me about the sum of Five Million Two Hundred
Thousand Euros (€5,200,000.00) which he deposited in a bank here.
I have contacted you now for assistance and support in getting this fund to
your account and i assure you that everything will be done safely and you
will take 20% of the total money as soon as you receive this money in your
country.
I would also rely on you to design and implementation of investment
projects for a joint business partnership once the money safely in your
care for our common benefit because of your better knowledge.
Thanks as we wait to hear from you.
Respectfully.
Miss Meliana Bekeson.
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Anti-fraud resources:
